Thinking about the process and product of your Capstone, reflect upon what you are most proud of and what you might do differently if you were to complete a similar project in the future.
I am most proud that I wrote and performed an original composition in high school. Not very many people can say they’ve done that. It means a lot to me that people were really impressed that I wrote something like that.
I would try to get the composition done long before I think I need to rehearse it, because I needed a lot of extra time to finish the composition than I thought and thus didn’t have that much time to rehearse.
Thinking about the Extra-curricular hours you completed, reflect upon what you learned through the experiences and/or how you have been impacted as an artist.
Through every band camp, I had new experiences. I learned the value of perseverance through non-stop hard work. We pushed through sunburns, heat rashes, dehydration, and shin splints. Because I was a section leader for 2022 and 2023, I learned the importance of having good leadership in marching band. I had to effectively negotiate stressful situations between members of a group, work around plans gone awry, and learn how to teach my skills to underclassmen. My leadership in marching band has taught me many valuable lessons that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
How do you plan to include artistic experiences in your future after high school?
After I graduate high school, I am going to ASU and majoring in Music Performance on clarinet. Having an arts seal is a sure way to prove my worth to the music program before I even enter it. I am incredibly excited to go to school for music because my dream career is playing music for the rest of my life. I have learned many life lessons from being in band and completing this capstone project that I will carry with me throughout my journey in the music world.
What advice would you give incoming freshmen about studying the arts to help them make the most of their experiences while in high school?
Incoming freshmen should know that band isn’t just about playing music. It is about making friends, collaboration, respect, accomplishment, and perseverance. You will learn all kinds of things through band or other performing arts that you can’t learn anywhere else on campus. It provides such a unique community for students that wholly enriches the high school experience and will stick with you for years to come.